Some gardeners are keeping their allotments in shape during the coronavirus lockdown. West Lothian Council have said they can use it as part of their daily exercise as long as they keep to social distancing rules.

The West Lothian Council website has the following advice:

Allotments

If you visit your allotment as your daily exercise, you must adhere to the rules on social distancing and hygiene. Handwashing is especially important before and after touching shared surfaces such as gates and taps. Shared indoor spaces on allotment sites should not be used, to minimise the risk of virus transmission.

The Scottish Government has published the following statement on allotment sites during the COVID-19 outbreak:

Decisions on whether or not to keep allotment sites open during the COVID-19 outbreak are currently a matter for local authorities and other allotment owners. Those wishing to access allotments should note that the Scottish Government has instructed people to stay at home. The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 prohibit any person from leaving the place they are living without a reasonable excuse, and ban public gatherings of more than two people. People over the age of 70 are advised to self-isolate.

Pictured: The Livingston allotment is locked up but gardeners have keys